A new week-long workshop series that culminates in a free reading that is open to the public begins May 6 at the Ars Nova Theater.

The Next Step Series will present Brooke Berman's Hunting and Gathering at 2 PM. Directed by Leigh Silverman, the cast includes Michael Chernus, Keira Naughton, Alison Pill and Jason Pugatch.

The play, according to production notes, concerns the "search for N.Y.C. real estate, the right lover [and] a place you can call home," and answers the question, "Do you have to be a predator to survive?"

A graduate of the Juilliard School, Brooke Berman's other plays include Smashing, Until We Find Each Other, The Triple Happiness and Sam & Lucy. Berman is a member of the Dramatists Guild, PEN and is a resident playwright at New Dramatists.

Although the reading is free, reservations are required by calling (212) 977 1700. The Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street, west of Tenth Avenue.

* The Next Step Series will continue with Elizabeth Meriwether's The Mistakes Madeline Made and Jay Reiss' The Tulip Craze.